A Profile of a Refrigerator Recycling Program

Cynthia M. Austin and Cathy Chappell, Heschong Mahone Group
Ed Hamzawi and Warren Lindeleaf, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Roger L. Wright, RLW Analytics

Keywords

Abstract

In response to California’s electricity supply and demand crisis of 2001, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) implemented a portfolio of programs funded by the California Legislature, through Senate Bill 5X. As part of its SB5X portfolio, SMUD implemented a Refrigerator Recycling program through a third-party contractor. The program picked up old inefficient appliances and shipped them to a recycling center,
permanently removing them from further use. This program was similar to programs being operated by other California utilities. SMUD’s program goal was to collect 6,000 refrigerators and freezers by December 31, 2002. SMUD’s initial savings targets were to reduce summer capacity by 1.5 MW and reduce energy consumption by 10.2 GWh/yr, making it SMUD’s largest SB5X program in terms of energy savings.

An evaluation was undertaken to determine the characteristics of the recycled units. Also, we estimated the gross energy savings and demand reduction achieved by the program.